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Doctor Thorne

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Doctor Thorne

By: Anthony Trollope
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Anthony Trollope once said, "A novel should give a picture of common life enlivened by humor and sweetened by pathos." Trollope admirably fulfills his own criteria in this charming third novel in the Chronicles of Barsetshire.

When Doctor Thomas Thorne adopts his niece, Mary, he chooses to keep secret her illegitimate birth as he introduces her to the best local social circles. There she meets and falls in love with Frank Gresham, heir to a vastly mortgaged estate. With such a deeply depleted fortune, Frank is obliged to find a wealthy wife. And so, at the behest of his mother, Mary is banished and Frank proposes to woman deemed financially appropriate, despite his unfailing love for Mary.

Only Doctor Thorne knows that Mary is to inherit a large legacy that will make her acceptable to the otherwise disapproving middle-class society to which Frank belongs. The question is, will he reveal the secret before it's too late?

Where fiery passion fails, understated English virtues of patience, persistence, and good humor prevail in this most appealing of Trollope's novels.

(P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Comedy Witty
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Critic reviews

“Trollope did not write for posterity; he wrote for the day, the moment; but these are just the writers whom posterity is apt to put into its pocket.”

(Henry James)

“Trollope’s 1875 tale of a great financier’s fraudulent machinations in the railway business, and his daughter’s ill-use at the hands of a grasping lover…is a classic in the literature of money and a ripping good read as well.”

(Amazon.com)

“We are heartily disposed to place the author of Doctor Thorne among the extremely select few who shine out like a constellation among the unnumbered lesser luminaries of the ‘circulating’ firmament. Indeed, we are prepared to name him among the illustrious living writers of fiction whom we are able to count off upon our fingers…Mr. Anthony Trollope’s style is decidedly improved; it was always masculine, vigorous, and free from any mincing affectations and foreign fripperies…in Doctor Thorne it has lost none of its vigour and clearness.”

(Leader, 1858)

“There is genuine humour in Doctor Thorne…arising from the natural play of the characters. The characters are real creatures of human nature, flesh and blood, vigorously and broadly drawn, but not caricatured.”

(Athenaeum, 1858)
All stars
Most relevant
Simon Vance is such a great narrator, Audible could sell him reading a Google search list out loud - so I don't understand why he reads the voice of the heroine (Mary Thorne) as though she has a mouthful of prunes. There's a slight tendency for caricature in some of his other female voices too - yet others are excellent, Dr Thorne's voice is perfection, and the overall effect and atmosphere Simon Vance creates is brilliant. For these reasons - and because it's such a great novel - I managed to ignore the prune effect by and large, but it doesn't reflect well on the sellers of this audiobook, that they didn't recognise and remedy this problem. The end result is a unfair reflection on a great narrator. Must do better, Audible!

Simon Vance wonderful - except the heroine

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A story, not too far away from our modern time, is well portrayed. Characters like Doctor Torne and Mary Thorne, do reflect the tide approaching our 'modernness'. Meanwhile, integrity, though becoming less and less common, found and ingrained in Doctor Thorne, is being upheld through and through. The value of loyalty is stressed also...

A easy and beautiful read, performed, as always by Simon Vance.

A Nice Read

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A thoroughly satisfying listen from start to finish. A simple, but solid and engaging storyline, with wonderfully filled-out characters, who live out their lives under the rigid societal hierarchy of the times. Skilfully and sympathetically narrated - a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.

Beautifully written story, beautifully read.

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great prose beautifully read. my favourite author, so pleased to have found him on 'audio'
does he pre dat jane austin as there are certsinly echoes i her novels.

great prose beautifully read

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Simon Vance makes Trollope come to life and the humour is brought out.
I like Timothy West but his narration of Trollope is too dry for me and i struggled with every novel.
Vance makes it feel like a different author, more like Dickens.
Im discovering Trollope all over again.

This is one of the best of the Barchester series.

Better than Timothy West in my opinion

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